Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Micah Parsons and the Cowboys second round pick are hitting it off Donovan Ezeiruaku opens up about first minicamp, Micah’s influence – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Micah Parsons is taking the Dallas Cowboys‘ second-round pick under his wing. It bodes well for the upstart NFL pass rusher that his position group is led by none other than Micah Parsons, an All-Pro who is off to a historic start to his career and, despite ongoing contract negotiations, reported to minicamp with the added goal of mentoring and coaching up the younger talent on the defensive line. “I told them no egos in this room,” said Parsons of his message to the group. “… If I’m not [hustling], tell me to get the f-ck on. … Everybody’s sh-t stinks. We’re not all perfect.” The words resonate heavily with Ezeiruaku and others. “Nobody’s above anybody,” he said. “We all have different successes, and have all done certain things already in the game. [Granted, in the NFL] I haven’t done anything, but it doesn’t matter, because if one guy isn’t going hard, we’re gonna get on that guy the same way as anybody else was not going hard. “Everybody’s equal.
That’s pretty much what we mean by [an egoless group].” The bond has also been made more profound off of the field, by way of group gatherings that include bowling nights, and though the super-competitive Parsons may or may not agree, Ezeiruaku pointed out he’s one to contend with at the lanes; and that he routinely bowls “in the [200s]”. A close-knit group and locker room speaks largely to the culture being constructed by head coach Brian Schottenheimer and, to this point, there is evidence everywhere of its early roots taking hold. Cowboys’ Schottenheimer as first-year coach and playcaller – Todd Archer, ESPN A first-time head coach must be prepared for multiple curveballs in their inaugural season in the NFL. Callahan and Canales mentioned game management as a large aspect of their jobs that needed an adjustment. Canales has George Li as the Panthers’ game management coordinator. They watched playoff games together last year to go over end-of-half and end-of-game scenarios, as well as when to use the challenge flag. “He’s peppering me with different situations that come up throughout the week,” Canales said. “I felt covered by him to be able to give me a heads-up on things that might come up so I can be focused on making the next call. Certainly, when we’re on the defensive side, then there’s more open dialogue with those things, but I lean on George.” For Schottenheimer, that person is Ryan Feder, one of the holdovers from McCarthy’s staff. He was an assistant quarterbacks coach last year with game management responsibilities, but he carries the game management coordinator title under Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer called Feder a “trusted adviser.” “I think he does it as well as anybody in the business. On game day, you need one voice that you’re hearing. Because obviously these things happen at critical and tense moments and things like that,” Schottenheimer said. “So to have that one voice be someone that you have complete confidence in and complete trust in, really does matter.” Schottenheimer said he will listen to everybody — players, assistants, other head coaches — but that doesn’t mean he will always implement what he’s told. “You talk to people all the time. I’ve been thinking about this really my whole life as a professional, what I wanted to do,” Schottenheimer said. “But there’s things that come up every day and I kind of wish my dad was still here — I’d reach out to him. But you know, the coaches around the league, spending time with those guys at the league meetings, they were great. They’ve all been first-time head coaches. Brian Schottenheimer’s culture & connections mean 0 until it all goes to hell – Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s ‘wins’ this offseason must translate to wins in the fall. It applies to Brian Schottenheimer, who is 51; at 51, Schottenheimer is not a young NFL head coach. The average age of the NFL head coach in 2025 is 48, the lowest it’s been in 25 years. But at 51, Schottenheimer is a head coach for the first time in his life. “The landscape of coaching is changing, where a lot more younger coaches are getting opportunities to coach, because I think it’s about that connection,” Ryans said in an interview before he was formally inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame last month at AT&T Stadium. Brian Schottenheimer’s ‘culture shock’ Since Schottenheimer was named the new head coach of the Cowboys in January, much has been said and written about his ability to “connect” with the players in an effort to build a “culture” he seeks. He put a ping-pong table in the middle of the Cowboys locker room at The Star in Frisco. These sorts of toys are not uncommon in pro sports locker rooms; the Texas Rangers had one for several years until someone in management had it removed because they didn’t think a playing a game is serious enough for a profession that is ultimately a game. Schottenheimer recently had the team’s quarterbacks, with their families, partake in a lesson where they learned Greek line dancing. Over the weekend, a video of defensive end Micah Parsons calling Schottenheimer to “say goodnight” went viral on social media. The head coach wasn’t thrilled that the video was leaked by the player himself on his TikTok account, but at least it shows Schottenheimer has a relationship with his most talented player, who is currently in a contract holdout of sorts. Cowboys’ Micah Parsons on latest contract talk, if he will attend training camp without new deal – Jon Machota, The Athletic Micah Parsons spoke about almost everything during his media availability on Tuesday. At one point, Parsons spent roughly 30 minutes talking with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 86) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we’re running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 86. Trevon Diggs Born: September 20, 1998. Gaithersburg, MarylandPosition: CornerbackDallas Cowboys: 2020-CurrentAwards: All-Pro- 2021Pro Bowl– 2021, 2022NFL interceptions leader- 2021 Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Trevon Diggs joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 as a second-round pick out of Alabama and quickly developed into one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers at cornerback. Known for his ball-hawking ability, Diggs had a breakout season in 2021, leading the NFL with 11 interceptions, which is the most by any player in over 40 years. His aggressive style of play, elite instincts, and receiver-like hands made him a constant threat to opposing quarterbacks and a centerpiece of the Cowboys’ secondary. With his injuries mounting and questions on his knee ahead of the 2025 season, some fans feel they should move on from the elite defensive back, but Diggs feels he’s got more than a point to prove this year, and that he’s worth every penny on his $97 million contract he signed in 2023. #Cowboys Trevon Diggs taking another step in his recovery. From @doctor_reef on IG: “In this phase we are starting to reintroduce light functional athletic and positional football movements while still keeping impact low to protect healing while promoting more bone growth.” pic.twitter.com/PWoxVeykSD — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) June 4, 2025 Best known for:Diggs is best known for leading the NFL in interceptions in 2021 with 11 picks, tied for the most in a single season in Cowboys history and one of the highest totals in the modern era. TREVON DIGGS’ ELEVENTH INTERCEPTION. #DallasCowboys : #WASvsDAL on NBC : https://t.co/RVn6kdfzlm pic.twitter.com/apArPdSN5T — NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2021 Lesser known fact:Before switching to cornerback in college, Diggs originally played wide receiver at Alabama, following in the footsteps of his older brother, All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs. But what most people don’t know is he didn’t get to playing serious snaps at the position until his final year at Alabama. He played very little in his sophomore season, was in only six game in his junior year, leaving only his senior season to master the position. This shows his natural athleticism and ball skills. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 86Trevon Diggs#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/0P9qAlh6qE — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 10, 2025

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Micah Parsons was present at Cowboys minicamp, but did not participate in any drills. When it comes to how you act while you are negotiating a contract extension in the NFL, there are several schools of thought. One can choose to show up and participate regardless of what is going on around them. Others can opt to not be present at mandatory events and be willing to incur fines as a result. This is the path that T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson, two of the NFL’s best pass rushers, took this week. This is all relevant for Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons as he is in the middle of contract negotiations himself. Parsons was present as the team began its mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, but reportedly did not participate in any drills. Micah Parsons was on the field but did not take part in any drills. He did have a prolonged conversation with owner Jerry Jones for about 25-30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/rt9K0ZocD4 — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) June 10, 2025 Some refer to this kind of move as a “hold in” where a player is present, and therefore not subject to fines, but doesn’t involve themselves in any activity where they could be injured. It is an evolution of sorts on the holdout that has been around forever. It is hard to say if that is exactly what Parsons was doing on Tuesday. Not participating could have been a decision that he made or the team could have been giving him the day off. Maybe the lack of participation was to allow him time to discuss whatever he discussed with Jerry Jones for almost half an hour. The team’s minicamp runs through Thursday so it is possible that we get some sort of answers before then. Until any more leaves fall, to use Jerry Jones’ parlance, we’ll continue to have to speculate.

Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The latest news from around the division. Cover 3: What we’re learning about the Giants at OTAs – John Schmeelk, Dan Salomone, & Matt Citak, Giants.com How Russell Wilson is getting along in New York. Matt Citak: As Brian Daboll has told the media, star wide receiver Malik Nabers has not been participating in OTAs, as the team is being cautious with their top playmaker this spring as he recovers from a toe injury. With the No. 1 option in the passing game not out there during team drills, quarterback Russell Wilson has relied on his other pass-catchers. We are now heading towards the end of these spring practices, and it has become clear that Wilson has started to develop some nice chemistry with his other wide receivers and tight ends. As Schmeelk mentioned, Wilson and Hyatt have connected a lot throughout the spring. The veteran quarterback has gone out of his way to praise Hyatt to the media at various times since being introduced as a Giant, and the two are backing up those praises on the field. Wilson’s first pass during 7-on-7 drills on Monday was a beautiful throw to Hyatt in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Wilson ended up throwing four consecutive touchdown passes to start that team period, with the other three going to Tyrone Tracy Jr., Darius Slayton and Theo Johnson. The second-year tight end caught another touchdown from Wilson later during 11-on-11s, and Wan’Dale Robinson got in on the action in the final period with a big catch-and-run on a pass over the middle from Wilson. Of course, it would be great if Nabers was out here catching passes from Wilson during OTAs. But the most important thing for the 21-year-old is to get fully healthy for the start of the season. I cannot imagine it will take long for Wilson and Nabers to build a connection of their own, and once they do, the sky is the limit for the star wideout. For right now, though, the veteran quarterback’s growing chemistry with the other targets has been on full display these last couple of weeks. If that continues to grow as we get into training camp, then the offense should be in a good position to start strong once the season kicks off in September. Commanders’ Trey Hendrickson dream might be dead after surprise move – Ryan Heckman, RiggosRag.com Cincinnati may be freeing up money to sign that star pass rusher. This offseason has been home to some high-level trades for the Washington Commanders. Adam Peters has gotten fairly aggressive in that department after the rousing success we saw in the 2024 season. Despite having moved significant capital to land the likes of Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, Washington still could have entered the conversation for Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. After the Bengals released starting linebacker Germaine Pratt on Monday, though, any glimmer of hope might just be gone. By releasing Pratt, the Bengals saved just under $6 million. By opening up even more money, that now begs the question of whether or not it will allow them to get a deal done with Hendrickson. The contract standoff between Cincinnati and Hendrickson has been well-documented and continues to see no end in sight. But, after the release of Pratt, there should be some added wiggle room thus making it feasible to get a contract extension done with the star pass rusher. It’s only a bit of perceived momentum at the moment, but this all adds up. The idea that the Bengals would release their leading tackler all while knowing they’re not going to get anything worked out with Hendrickson is pretty farfetched. NFL franchises have done dumb things before, and will continue to do so, but this seems like a painful mistake if it were to come to fruition. Instead, I think it means the Bengals will be able to work something out with Hendrickson and, in the process, end all of the whispers around a potential trade — yes, even to the Commanders. How Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is finding his way in talented Eagles linebacker room – Reuben Frank, NBC Sports Philadelphia The second level of Philly’s defense seems to be formidable. Too many good linebackers? That’s a new one around here. The team that brought you Jamar Chaney, Matt McCoy, Moise Fokou, Nate Gerry, Keith Adams, Zach Brown and Kiko Alonso has been linebacker-starved for much of the past few decades. But now the Eagles have a returning all-pro, a highly touted rookie and a 24-year-old who played at a Pro Bowl level last year before an unfortunate injury. That’s what Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is looking up at. And he loves it. Because the more talent in the room, the more he knows he’s going to improve. “We’ve got a lot of great, talented linebackers in that room and we have a lot of depth at the position and it only makes everybody better,” Trott said after a recent OTA practice. “Everybody in that room is competing and we’re helping each other, sharing our tips and knowledge back and forth. Trying to bring each other along, and when you do that and you try to compete with the guy right next to you, that only helps. “You improve your game. So I’m really happy to be a part of a situation like that. It’s not like that everywhere.” Zack Baun returns after making 1st-team all-pro last year, Jihaad Campbell is the highly touted 2nd-round pick and Nakobe Dean is coming off a terrific first year as a full-time starter. But with Campbell rehabbing from a shoulder injury and Dean facing an extended layoff with a knee injury, the 22-year-old Trotter has been practicing with the 1st-team defense across from Baun during OTAs. It’s a terrific opportunity for Trotter, a 5th-round pick last year who didn’t play any defensive snaps until the last two weeks

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Here is a look at the state of the Cowboys safeties group.  As we wind down our roster review, we take a look at the Dallas Cowboys safeties. The position had improved under Dan Quinn, but Quinn also liked to have his safeties moonlight as linebackers to add more speed in the front seven. With a new defensive coordinator, some players had to adjust to playing a more traditional role. The good news is Dallas has some continuity with many of their safeties being on the roster for multiple seasons. Here is a closer look at Dallas’ safeties ahead of training camp. Malik Hooker Malik Hooker enters his now fifth season with the Dallas Cowboys after originally being drafted in 2017 by the Indianapolis Colts. The one thing that was a problem about Hooker before joining the Cowboys was his health. Since coming to Dallas he has been durable. Since joining the Cowboys, he has only missed two games and played 96% of the defensive snaps last season. As a player, he may not be as rangy as he was in Indianapolis but still adequate at playing center field to take away deep pass attempts. The one aspect that has been a pleasant surprise is how well he plays the run. Per PFF, Hooker was 25th amongst 171 safeties in run defense, graded at 77.8. Hooker is well suited for the role that he is in. You could do a lot worse at safety and Hooker has shown that he is a reliable veteran. Donovan Wilson Donovan Wilson is a big hitter capable of folding even the most rugged of running backs into origami. However, we’ve seen that he’s most effective playing down in the box near the line of scrimmage. The further you get Wilson away from the line of scrimmage in coverage, the less impactful he can become. Wilson enters the year on an $8.6M cap hit and is by far the most expensive safety the Cowboys have on their roster. At 30 years old, and with his third defensive coordinator in as many years, could this be the end of the line for Wilson in Dallas? Juanyeh Thomas If there’s a candidate to break out in the Cowboys’ defense, it could be Junayeh Thomas. Thomas has been flirting with breaking into a starter’s role over the last few seasons because of his versatility and very strong showing in training camp and the preseason. Thomas boasts an impressive athletic profile at 6’3”, 217 lbs. In the last two training camps, we’ve seen Thomas show a nose for the football and countless times be in the right place at the right time. While sitting in zone defenses, he seems to have a good understanding of route concepts and knows where to make a play on the ball. For now, he mostly played on special teams with one kickoff return touchdown. Keep a close eye on Thomas this year. He’s been getting some run as the slot corner in the offseason; that will be something to monitor as training camp arrives. Markquese Bell Like Wilson, Bell had spent a lot of time in the box as a hybrid linebacker under Dan Quinn. In 2024, that plan changed and Bell went back to his original role at safety. In the transition back to safety, Bell saw very limited action and played more so on special teams. Unfortunately, Bell sustained a shoulder injury in Week 11 of the season that caused him to go on season-ending injured reserve and caused him to miss the remainder of the year. Now healthy, Bell looks to a new chapter of his career, this time richer. Dallas signed Bell to a three-year, $9M contract to remain in the fold. Bell will be a core special teamer but can he push for playing time on defense? He and Wilson’s paths with the team could be on an intersecting trajectory if Bell can command more playing time. Zion Childress Zion Childress comes to the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. The former Kentucky Wildcat is selfless with leadership characteristics. A captain for Kentucky, Childress is willing and able to play whatever role the team needs. He has experience playing safety, in the slot, and as a cornerback on the outside. He’s a very good tackler and despite being sub 200 lbs., is unafraid to initiate contact in run support. Mike Smith Jr. Mike Smith is another UDFA safety with the Cowboys. Like Childress, Smith was also a captain for his school. He has good instincts to play the pass, especially in zone coverage. He had four interceptions last season and allowed 54% of passes thrown in his direction to be completed. Smith can also be tasked with playing the run as a box safety. Smith can also support in the slot and has experience playing special teams which would be his ticket to making the team as an undrafted free agent.

Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports The pass rusher market could be on the verge of blowing up. Waiting is a dangerous game. This has become a common theme of discussions we have had involving the Dallas Cowboys in recent years as several of their star players, who happen to play some of the most important and therefore expensive positions in professional football, have come due for contract extensions. As we sit the Cowboys have Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb under long-term contracts. They got those deals done and if what you care about is the overall end game, then you likely feel unbothered about the way the Cowboys have approached these situations. But from an economic standpoint the Cowboys have (seemingly) paid much more than they would have if they had shown more proactivity with either Lamb or Prescott (multiple times for him specifically). Consider that they were each eligible for extensions in the 2023 offseason and that Dallas did not jump on either situation. They both turned in fantastic statistical seasons which made negotiating even more difficult from the front office. What’s more is that they allowed players like A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jared Goff, Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love to get extensions at those positions which served as more hurdles to (seemingly) clear with the representation for their own players. As predicted by many, we are here again. This time it is Micah Parsons. The veteran pass rusher market could be on the verge of growing significantly We have noted this many times as well, but the Cowboys’ reactivity to Lamb and Prescott kept them busy last offseason and therefore (seemingly) unable to work on a Micah Parsons extension. Getting Parsons done last year, when he was first eligible, would have been wise. You would figure that this would have led the Cowboys to getting a Parsons deal done as soon as this offseason began. This did not happen. It is now June 10th, the first day of the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp. To his credit, Parsons has pledged to report and not leverage some sort of holdout situation in a move that is common for players in his situation. This move is actually so common that it is currently happening with two players who play his position. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively, are currently dealing with T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson holding out. Players on veteran deals, including the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson and the Steelers’ T.J. Watt who are skipping mandatory minicamp, are subject to these fines: Day 1: $17,462 Day 2: $34,925 Day 3: $52,381 Three days total: $104,768. https://t.co/m8KoGD1g6K pic.twitter.com/uhDE43eMwT — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 10, 2025 Trey Hendrickson (35.0 sacks) and T.J. Watt (30.5) are 1-2 in the NFL in sacks the past two seasons. Neither one is attending mandatory minicamp. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 10, 2025 You may feel like Hendrickson and/or Watt are going about this wrongly. Perhaps you believe, I do at least, that they are not players of Parsons’ caliber at the moment. None of this matters in a black and white sense in an economic world of supply and demand. What matters right now is that Hendrickson, Watt and Parsons all play the same position and all want to get paid which means whoever goes first is (in a theoretical sense) going to get the best deal. Consider that the Cleveland Browns were on the precipice of this sort of situation with Myles Garrett when the offseason began. They took care of business and got a new deal done with him, one that will likely serve as a discussion point for each of these three players and their representations with their respective teams. Garrett landed a four-year deal from Cleveland, one that was worth $40M per year. It made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. This benchmark was surpassed just a few months later (as is always the case in the NFL) by Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. You will recall that the Bengals tried to wait things out with Chase as he was the lone big-time receiver who the Cowboys got the CeeDee Lamb deal done ahead of. The Bengals and Cowboys occupy the same space in this sense in that they also waited for Chase as mentioned and are clearly waiting or something-ing for Hendrickson. It is a bit convenient to sweep all conversations of this variety under the rug of “the price always goes up”, but the evidence is pretty overwhelming at this point. There probably isn’t a single person among us who believes that Micah Parsons will be playing for any team other than the Cowboys for the foreseeable future. That doesn’t seem to be up for debate. But the inevitability of that which we all share isn’t some reason for the front office to drag their feet on getting a deal done. By brokering these as soon as possible you (not always, but more often than not) save in the long run as opposed to waiting until the eleventh hour. This sequence allows you to have all the more money for other opportunities.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print. Micah Parsons will be at Cowboys minicamp, but he might’ve foreshadowed a training camp holdout – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports The Cowboys expect Micah Parsons to be a big part of their new culture, but there is business to be handled first. With potential fines on the line, Parsons said via social media last week he would be at minicamp, confirming the words from his head coach Brian Schottenheimer. However, in that very message, Parsons might’ve foreshadowed a potential training camp holdout. Parsons has suggested he won’t hold out but in his recent social media post, he wrote a sentence that should raise some eyebrows: “Even though the contract is not done, I have teammates and a playbook!,” Parsons posted in relation to attending minicamp. ”I’m preparing as if I will be on the field the first week of camp! But it’s in the owner’s hands.” You may read that in different ways but it sure sounds like he’s saying his attendance in minicamp is to prepare himself to be there in the first week of camp. . . “BUT it’s in the owner’s hands.” In other words, though he’s preparing to be at camp, he might not be there if the owner doesn’t make a deal official by then. The Cowboys will report to training camp in late July at Oxnard, California. 2025 Cowboys Minicamp: Schottenheimer has ‘special’ message for Micah amid contract talks – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com One way or another, Micah Parsons plans on being himself once the season begins. The three-time All-Pro pass rusher found himself on the receiving end of a special message ahead of minicamp, having phoned Schottenheimer as “good night” trend on TikTok, of course being an offseason headliner due to his ongoing contract negotiations. “I know this is weird for everybody, but look, you’re handling everything the right way bro,” Schottenheimer told Parsons. “This thing is going to get worked out.” Parsons was present and accounted for in the very beginning of the offseason program but absent during voluntary OTAs, making it exceedingly clear he’d be in the building for minicamp this week. “I will be there!” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I haven’t missed a camp in four years! Even though the contract is not done, I have teammates and a playbook! I’m preparing as if I will be on the field the first week of camp!” In April, the four-time Pro Bowler echoed his previous plan to be in Oxnard as well for training camp. “I’ll still be around,” he said. “For me, I’ve still gotta learn a playbook and I’m not so much of an iPad person where I can just keep learning. I’ve gotta walk through it. Maybe it’s so much I might not be on the field part of it, but I’ll be there learning, so that way I’m at least getting prepared to be ready for Week 1.” Cowboys defensive depth chart after OTAs and before mandatory minicamp – OCC, Blogging The Boys One possible look at how Matt Eberflus is thumbing over the depth chart after OTAs. Linebacker The key to the depth chart at LB is of course DeMarvion Overshown. He’ll start the season on PUP, and may return around Thanksgiving, though that is far from a given. He’s penciled in below in red, but he’s not going to count against the 53 at the start of the season. POS Starter Backup Depth Others MLB Jack Sanborn Damone Clark Darius Harris Justin Barron WLB Kenneth Murray Marist Liufau Shemar James Buddy Johnson DeMarvion Overshown (PUP) Cornerback Today, the Cowboys have no idea who the nickel cornerback will be, which leads to an interesting cornerback depth chart featuring two safeties. POS Starter Backup Depth Others LCB DaRon Bland Shavon Revel Andrew Booth Bruce Harmon NB Israel Mukuamu Juanyeh Thomas Kemon Hall Troy Pride RCB Kaiir Elam Caelen Carson Josh Butler Luq Barcoo Trevon Diggs (PUP) Like Overshown, Trevon Diggs will start the season on PUP, but his return is even less clear than Overshown’s. The Cowboys are currently trying out safeties Israel Mukuamu and Juanyeh Thomas at nickelback, so they are penciled in there at the moment, but that could easily change. There’s some hope that Shavon Revel will be healthy enough to compete for a starting spot by camp, but for now he’s listed here as a backup. Packers release CB Jaire Alexander; Cowboys should make the call – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside The Star Changes could still be coming at cornerback, where the Cowboys injury situation has things unsettled. While Alexander’s recent injury history raises concerns, (he’s played just 14 games over the past two seasons due to a mix of shoulder and leg issues), his on-field talent is undeniable. When active, he has the ability to eliminate an opponent’s top receiving threat. For a team like the Cowboys who are trying to contend in the NFC next season, that type of talent is hard to ignore. Depth Issues Although Dallas boasts one of the NFL’s most aggressive and opportunistic defenses, cornerback depth remains a legitimate concern heading into 2025. CB Trevon Diggs is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered early in the 2024 season, and while his progress has reportedly been positive, there’s always uncertainty surrounding a player returning from such a serious injury. CB DaRon Bland stepped up last season in a big way, but without another healthy superstar opposite of him, the defense isn’t as strong as it can be. Beyond those two, the depth chart thins quickly. Jourdan Lewis has been dependable, but he’s now in Jacksonville, and younger players like Caelen Carson have yet to prove they’re ready for larger roles. Former Cowboys OL unlocks key for Dak Prescott to finally win an MVP – Jared A’Latorre, The Landry Hat How quickly the Cowboys can get back to fielding a dominant offensive line in front of Dak

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 87) with some Cowboys history We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we running through 100 Days of Cowboys. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football. Today – number 87. Larry Cole Born: November 15, 1946. Clarkfield, MinnesotaPosition: Defensive LineDallas Cowboys: 1968-1980Awards: Super Bowl champion- VI, XII Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images Lawrence Rudolph Cole played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1968 to 1980, spending his entire 13-year NFL career with the team, showing unheralded devotion and passion for the Cowboys. Drafted in the 16th round out of Hawaii, Cole became a key part of Dallas’s legendary “Doomsday Defense.” A versatile defensive lineman, he played virtually every position on the line moving up down the line from nose to defensive end throughout games. He was known by his teammates for his intelligence, consistency, and ability to deliver in big moments. Cole played in five Super Bowls with the Cowboys, winning two (Super Bowl VI and XII), and was a quiet but critical contributor to one of the most dominant defenses of the era, and in Cowboys history. November 10, 1968#HTTR #CowboysHanburger pick 6Larry Cole fumble recovery TDMeredith 17-27-275-2Jurgensen 12-25-228-2Perkins 13-103-1 1-15Hayes 5-105-1Taylor 5-114-244-24 #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/jxS76r33zv — Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) January 21, 2024 Best known for:Cole was best known for his longevity and dependability on the Cowboys’ defensive line, serving as a key piece of the once feared “Doomsday Defense.” #BowsInThePros: DL Larry Cole – Drafted in the 16th round, 428th overall of the 1968 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys – Played 13 seasons in the NFL, all with Dallas – Started 130/176 games played, recorded 14 fumble recoveries, 4 INTs, and 4 TDs#BRADDAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/Sp3MOLp6hl — Hawaii Football Recruiting (@UH_FBRecruits) July 6, 2023 Lesser known fact:Cole appeared in 26 playoff games for Dallas, the second-most in team history. ✭ COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ✭ With 100 days to go until the #Cowboys kickoff the season against the #Eagles, we are counting down with a @BloggingTheBoys Top-100 consensus ranking. We asked staffers to give in their top-100, here is: DAY 87Larry Cole#DallasCowboys… pic.twitter.com/kxrXhZgfq7 — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) June 9, 2025

The Dallas Cowboys have completed their OTAs, which makes it a good time to look at what an updated defensive depth chart could look like. Over the last month or so, the Cowboys have had three days of rookie minicamp and nine scheduled OTAS. In that time, they’ve probably gone through most of the install of their playbooks and definitely went on a paintball trip. In addition to being teaching sessions, the practices have also been evaluation sessions. And as these evaluations have been going on, the Cowboys depth chart has inevitably changed, some players started playing with the first team, some players moved up from the third team to the second team, others moved down in the depth charts. Not all practices have been open to the media, but there’s been enough information published to give us a better idea of what the team’s depth chart could look like. As you review the depth charts below, keep in mind that none of the practices so far have been conducted in pads. More importantly, quite a few players have missed parts or all of OTAs with injuries, or because the OTAs are voluntary. But before we dive into the depth charts and debate the names listed as starters or backups, let’s first take a look at how new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus likes to construct his defenses from a numbers point of view. Here’s what the opening-day rosters on defense looked like at his last two coaching gigs, as a DC with the Colts and as head coach with the Bears. Colts DC Bears HC Season 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Defensive Line 9 8 9 10 9 9 11 Linebackers 6 9 8 6 6 5 5 Defensive Backs 10 10 10 11 11 10 10 of which: CB 5 5 5 7 6 6 6 of which: S 5 5 5 4 5 4 4 Total 25 27 27 27 26 24 26 From year to year, those numbers aren’t far apart and suggest that the Cowboys will likely carry 9-10 defensive linemen, 5-6 linebackers, 10-11 defensive backs, probably with more corners than safeties – and there probably won’t be more than 25-26 spots for the defense. Defensive Line The Cowboys like to rotate their defensive linemen heavily during games, which makes the distinction between starter and backup perhaps a bit less clear than on other teams, especially on the edge. Right now, I have 10 lineman (marked in green) making the roster. POS Starter Backup Depth Others LDE Dante Fowler Donovan Ezeiruaku Sam Williams Luiji Vilain NT Mazi Smith Jay Toia Justin Rogers Denzel Daxon DT Osa Odighizuwa Solomon Thomas Tommy Akingbesote Earnest Brown RDE Micah Parsons Payton Turner Marshawn Kneeland Tyrus Wheat The Cowboys will likely go long at edge rusher, considering that both Marshawn Kneeland (meniscus) and Sam Williams (ACL) are recovering from injuries. At defensive tackle, it’s anybody’s guess if either of the two seventh-round DTs, Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote, make the final 53, or if the Cowboys pull the trigger on a veteran nose tackle sometime during camp. Linebacker The key to the depth chart at LB is of course DeMarvion Overshown. He’ll start the season on PUP, and may return around Thanksgiving, though that is far from a given. He’s penciled in below in red, but he’s not going to count against the 53 at the start of the season. POS Starter Backup Depth Others MLB Jack Sanborn Damone Clark Darius Harris Justin Barron WLB Kenneth Murray Marist Liufau Shemar James Buddy Johnson DeMarvion Overshown (PUP) Damone Clark and Marist Liufau seem to have the backup spots locked up for now, the depth beyond them likely won’t be settled until training camp. Fifth-round pick Shemar James gets the nod here over second-year player Darius Harris, but only because new-toy disease kicks in. Cornerback Today, the Cowboys have no idea who the nickel cornerback will be, which leads to an interesting cornerback depth chart featuring two safeties. POS Starter Backup Depth Others LCB DaRon Bland Shavon Revel Andrew Booth Bruce Harmon NB Israel Mukuamu Juanyeh Thomas Kemon Hall Troy Pride RCB Kaiir Elam Caelen Carson Josh Butler Luq Barcoo Trevon Diggs (PUP) Like Overshown, Trevon Diggs will start the season on PUP, but his return is even less clear than Overshown’s. The Cowboys are currently trying out safeties Israel Mukuamu and Juanyeh Thomas at nickelback, so they are penciled in there at the moment, but that could easily change. There’s some hope that Shavon Revel will be healthy enough to compete for a starting spot by camp, but for now he’s listed here as a backup. Safety If the Cowboys do indeed plan on having two of their safeties as slot corners, the depth at safety will necessarily be thin, and there are only four safeties in the table below making the 53-man roster. POS Starter Backup Depth Others SS Malik Hooker Markquese Bell Mike Smith FS Donovan Wilson Alijah Clark Zion Childress With Mukuamu and Thomas trying out as slot corners, that may open up a roster spot for UDFA Alijah Clark, who had been getting some looks with the first-team unit during OTAs. The Cowboys have mandatory minicamp scheduled for this week, perhaps that will provide more clarity on the defensive depth chart. For now though, 25 defensive players make the roster on defense, 10 defensive linemen, five linebackers, and 10 defensive backs. Let us know your thoughts on this very early depth chart in the comments section below.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images Who do you think will emerge as RB1 for the Cowboys? One of the more intriguing training camp battles coming up for the Dallas Cowboys is at the running back position. After signing Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency, and with Rico Dowdle heading elsewhere, the running back position will look very different in 2025. The two leading candidates to win the starting job heading into camp are former Denver Bronco Williams, and former Carolina Panther/Philadelphia Eagle Miles Sanders. Both Williams and Sanders have had success in the NFL as a starters, but that success was quite a few years ago for both players. With Williams being the earlier Cowboys free agent signing, and the younger of the two, it would seem that he currently is the leader in the clubhouse to break camp ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, but counting Sanders out of the conversation in June would be a mistake. Over the course of his six-year career, Sanders has averaged 4.7 yards per carry compared to Williams 4.0 yards per carry. Sanders is years removed from impacting the game at a high level, but the same can be said for Williams. Unlike in 2024, when Ezekiel Elliott played limited snaps in camp, and zero reps in preseason, it is likely that we will see a lot of both Sanders and Williams throughout training camp and preseason games. With Jaydon Blue more than likely a lock to make the final roster, the real battle at the running back position will come down to Williams and Sanders. When the Cowboys get to Oxnard, it will be important to track who is getting a majority of the first-team reps and who is performing at a higher level, because more than likely that will be the Cowboys RB1 heading into the 2025 season. We must note as well, the Cowboys week one matchup could be an interesting revenge game for Miles Sanders against the Philadelphia Eagles if he is able to win the job this offseason. Based on what we know right now, what will be the fate of these two players? Who will get substantial carries this season? Will both make the team? Hit the comments and let us know the outcome of this camp battle.